Trends in the Turkish Military Industry

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Trends in the Turkish Military Industry NEW WEBSITE! community.apan.org/wg/tradoc-g2/fmso/ NEW WEBSITE! Foreign Military Studies Office Volume 7 Issue #5 OEWATCH June 2017 FOREIGN NEWS & PERSPECTIVES OF THE OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT SPECIAL ESSAY: TRENDS IN THE TURKISH MILITARY INDUSTRY MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA LATIN AMERICA CENTRAL ASIA, CAUCASUS 3 Hezbollah Learning New War Fighting Skills in Syria 21 Mexican Gas Smuggling 36 More Fallout from the St. Petersburg Metro Bombing 5 Turkish Airstrikes on Kurdish Groups in Iraq and 22 Measuring Mexican Gas Theft 37 The Espionage Case Between Pakistan and India Syria: What’s Next? 23 On the Next Cuban President 39 Georgia’s “Strategic Defense Review” 6 Turkish Otokar Designs New Battle Tank for 24 About Bolivarian Motorcycle Colectivos Asymmetrical Warfare 25 Outcry over Maduro’s Military Courts RUSSIA, UKRAINE 8 Iran Unveils New Sniper Rifle 25 Venezuela: PSUV to Militarize? 40 Russia Establishes New Army Corps in the Arctic 9 Iran: Qods Force General is New Ambassador to Iraq 41 New S-500 Will Increase Russian Anti-Satellite Capability 10 Iran: Military Budget Increased 145% ASIA-PACIFIC 42 Russia Fielding First C2 System for Electronic Warfare 11 Syrian War: The Race to Deir Ezzor 26 Bhutan’s Relations With China and India Brigades 12 Internal Disputes and the Future of ISIS 27 Philippines Choose Chinese Investment Over 43 A Russian Leader to Watch 13 Saudi-UAE Friction in Yemen Territorial Defense 44 Insourcing Military Utilities and Housing 28 China and Thailand Arms Factory Deal is One Step 45 Crisis of Trust over Afghanistan AFRICA Closer 46 No Need to Fear the Spring Draft 14 “Terror Twins” Targeted South African Jewish 29 Vietnam’s Ongoing Energy Challenge 47 Winning Over Hearts and Minds in SE Ukraine Community, Others 30 China’s Push on the Belt and Road Initiative: Push- 48 Arctic Air Defense Interview 15 Post-Apartheid Pain: South Africans Question Back or Acceptance? 49 The Nature of Threats to Russia’s Western Sector and Country’s Direction 32 Operational Data: China’s Key to Victory on Future How to Address Them 16 Somalia: Concern Over AMISOM’s Future Battlefields? 17 Is the African Union Ignoring Early Warnings of 33 China Continues to Build Aircraft Carriers SPECIAL ESSAY Potential Conflict? 34 Cooperation with Civilians Leads to Killing of Abu 50 Trends in the Turkish Military Industry 18 South Sudan: Fragmenting Opposition Diminishes Sayyaf Commander Chances for Peace 35 Malacca Strait Patrols Reinvented for Sulu Sea 19 Malaria Fights Back: Africa’s Problem of Drug and Pesticide Resistance 20 Nigerian Security Challenges Interwoven with New Boko Haram Threats The Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is part of the US Army Training and Doctrine Command G-2, whose mission OEWATCH is to Understand, Describe, Deliver, and Assess the conditions of the Operational Foreign News & Perspectives Environment. For over 30 years, FMSO of the Operational Environment has conducted open source research Volume 7 | Issue 5 June | 2017 on foreign perspectives of defense and security issues, emphasizing those topics that are understudied or unconsidered. Regional Analysts and Expert Contributors Operational Environment Watch provides translated selections and Middle East, North Africa Karen Kaya analysis from a diverse range of Michael Rubin Lucas Winter foreign articles and other media that our analysts and expert contributors Africa Robert Feldman Jacob Zenn believe will give military and security professionals an added dimension Latin America Geoff Demarest to their critical thinking about the Asia-Pacific Cindy Hurst Operational Environment. Sudha Ramachandran Tim Thomas Materials, outside of the original foreign press Peter Wood article, under copyright have not been used. All Jacob Zenn articles published in the Operational Environment Watch are not provided in full, and were originally Central Asia, Caucasus Matthew Stein published in foreign (non-US) media. FMSO has provided some editing, format, and Russia, Ukraine Chuck Bartles graphics to these articles to conform to organizational Ray Finch standards. Academic conventions, source referencing, Les Grau and citation style are those of the author. Tim Thomas The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or Editor-in-Chief Tom Wilhelm Editor Karen Kaya the US Government. Release of this information does Design Editor Lucas Winter not imply any commitment or intent on the part of the US Government to provide any additional information on any topic presented herein. The Operational Environment Watch is archived and available at: https://community.apan.org/wg/ tradoc-g2/fmso/. ON THE COVER: Derivative work based on: 1. The Altay tank with multispectral camo net show cased at IDEF 2017; 2. Flag-map of Turkey; 3. Modern Istanbul skyline at sunset Sources: 1. Wikimedia.org, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAltayCamoNet.png, Taken from visitors at IDEF 2017.in Turkey [CC BY- SA 4.0]; 2. By Darwinek (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl. html)], via Wikimedia Commons; 3. By Ben Morlok [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA Hezbollah Learning New War Fighting Skills in Syria OE Watch Commentary: The accompanying passages from Middle Eastern sources discuss reports that Hezbollah has been “[Hezbollah’s] increased level of expertise has learning a new set of war fighting skills in Syria. The passages reflected a change in the perception of Hezbollah from Israeli sources discuss Israel’s changing threat perceptions of Hezbollah, given this development. by Israel ... The Institute for National Security Studies’ annual report ... underlined a significant The first accompanying passage quotes a Hezbollah fighter as saying that they have been “learning a lot by working with Russians strengthening of Hezbollah, surpassing Iran ‘as and Iranians in the Syria war and more specifically when it comes to the greatest danger to Israel’.” UAVs.” In addition, the excerpt discusses that “Hezbollah has moved from an entity always fighting the same enemy in the same place (Israel in south Lebanon) to multiple new war theatres, from barren Source: Mona Alami, “ANALYSIS: Hezbollah enters drone age mountains to flat agricultural areas and inner cities.” The group is with bombing raids in Syria,” Middle East Eye, 20 March 2017. also reported to have learned to use intelligence and reconnaissance to http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/analysis-hezbollah-enters- develop more complex offensive operations. Hezbollah is reportedly new-war-use-armed-drones-syria-11412100 also improving its logistics, offensive operations skills and learning to During an interview last month in Lebanon, a Hezbollah hold and control ground. fighter told Middle East Eye: “We are definitely learning a lot by Meanwhile, Israel is monitoring these developments. The excerpt working with Russians and Iranians in the Syria war and more quotes Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official and expert specifically when it comes to UAVs. on Israeli affairs, who says that Israel closely follows Hezbollah in Blanford [a Hezbollah expert] meanwhile said Hezbollah many ways, and is particularly monitoring their use of drones. was not only developing its knowledge of drones but is also practising a new set of war fighting skills in Syria. The second passage discusses a report by Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, which points to a significant strengthening This entails calling in strikes, improved logistics to troops of Hezbollah. The piece notes that last year, Iran was ranked as the deployed, improved offensive operations skills and learning to biggest threat to Israel, while Hezbollah appeared to be bleeding from hold and control ground. its involvement in the Syrian war. However, it notes that over the “Hezbollah moved from an entity always fighting the same past year, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has witnessed Hezbollah enemy in the same place (Israel in south Lebanon) to multiple make it through the Syrian war. The piece discusses that Hezbollah new war theatres, from barren mountains to flat agricultural now possesses precision weaponry that can hit any point on the areas and inner cities, all of which are unfamiliar to the map in Israel and claims that the group has the ability to deter the organisation’s cadres,” he said. Israeli air force and its stealth capabilities, the navy, its missile boats “Hezbollah has also learned to fight in larger unit sizes and and the ground forces. Given this background, the excerpt notes alongside other militaries which it has never done before. It even that Hezbollah has surpassed Iran as the greatest danger to Israel boasts an armoured brigade today. according to the think tank’s threat rankings. “It has also learned how to use intelligence and reconnaissance While Israel has avoided getting involved in the Syrian conflict, to develop more complex offensive operations.” weapons transfers to Hezbollah have often triggered a response by This increased level of expertise has also reflected a change in Israel. An incident in March was particularly worth noting, as it led the perception of Hezbollah by Israel. According to the Institute to the first reported use of Israel’s Arrow Missile Defense system. for National Security Studies’ annual report, it underlined a As the final excerpt from the Times of Israel reports, on 17 March, significant strengthening of Hezbollah, surpassing Iran “as the the Syrian armed forces fired three surface-to-air missiles (SAM) greatest danger to Israel”. against Israeli Air Force (IAF) jets, in response to Israeli jets striking Iran was ranked the biggest threat to Israel last year. Hezbollah targets in Syria. One of these missiles was intercepted by ... the Israeli Arrow missile defense system. This marked the deepest Israeli strike inside Syria since the civil war began and the first Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official and expert reported use of the advanced missile defense system.
Recommended publications
  • Turkey Aerospace & Defense
    TURKEY AEROSPACE & DEFENSE 2016 AEROSPACE TURKEY TURKEY AEROSPACE & DEFENSE 2016 Aerospace - Defense - Original Equipment Manufacturers Platforms - Clusters - Multinationals - Sub-Tier Suppliers Distinguished GBR Readers, Since the inception of the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries 30 years ago, significant steps have been taken to achieve the goals of having the Turkish armed forces equipped with modern systems and technologies and promoting the development of the Turkish defense industry. In the last decade alone, the aerospace and defense (A&D) sector's total turnover quadrupled, while exports have increased fivefold, reaching $5.1 billion and $1.65 billion in 2014, respectively. The industry's investment in research and development (R&D) reached almost $1 billion in 2014. The total workforce in the A&D industry reached 30,000 personnel, of which 30% are engineers. Even more remarkable, Turkey is now at the stage of offering its own platforms for both the local market and to international allies, and has commenced a series of follow up local programs. Although this progress has been achieved under the circumstances of a healthy and consistent political environment and in parallel with sustained growth in the Turkish economy, the proportion of expenditure for defense in the national budget and as a percentage of Turkey’s GDP has been stable. With the help of the national, multinational and joint defense industry projects that have been undertaken in Turkey by the undersecretariat, the defense industry has become a highly capable community comprising large-scale main contractors, numerous sub- system manufacturers, small- and medium-sized enterprises, R&D companies who are involved in high-tech, niche areas, research institutes, and universities.
    [Show full text]
  • The Purpose of the First World War War Aims and Military Strategies Schriften Des Historischen Kollegs
    The Purpose of the First World War War Aims and Military Strategies Schriften des Historischen Kollegs Herausgegeben von Andreas Wirsching Kolloquien 91 The Purpose of the First World War War Aims and Military Strategies Herausgegeben von Holger Afflerbach An electronic version of this book is freely available, thanks to the support of libra- ries working with Knowledge Unlatched. KU is a collaborative initiative designed to make high quality books Open Access. More information about the initiative can be found at www.knowledgeunlatched.org Schriften des Historischen Kollegs herausgegeben von Andreas Wirsching in Verbindung mit Georg Brun, Peter Funke, Karl-Heinz Hoffmann, Martin Jehne, Susanne Lepsius, Helmut Neuhaus, Frank Rexroth, Martin Schulze Wessel, Willibald Steinmetz und Gerrit Walther Das Historische Kolleg fördert im Bereich der historisch orientierten Wissenschaften Gelehrte, die sich durch herausragende Leistungen in Forschung und Lehre ausgewiesen haben. Es vergibt zu diesem Zweck jährlich bis zu drei Forschungsstipendien und zwei Förderstipendien sowie alle drei Jahre den „Preis des Historischen Kollegs“. Die Forschungsstipendien, deren Verleihung zugleich eine Auszeichnung für die bisherigen Leis- tungen darstellt, sollen den berufenen Wissenschaftlern während eines Kollegjahres die Möglich- keit bieten, frei von anderen Verpflichtungen eine größere Arbeit abzuschließen. Professor Dr. Hol- ger Afflerbach (Leeds/UK) war – zusammen mit Professor Dr. Paul Nolte (Berlin), Dr. Martina Steber (London/UK) und Juniorprofessor Simon Wendt (Frankfurt am Main) – Stipendiat des Historischen Kollegs im Kollegjahr 2012/2013. Den Obliegenheiten der Stipendiaten gemäß hat Holger Afflerbach aus seinem Arbeitsbereich ein Kolloquium zum Thema „Der Sinn des Krieges. Politische Ziele und militärische Instrumente der kriegführenden Parteien von 1914–1918“ vom 21.
    [Show full text]
  • WATCH February 2019 Foreign News & Perspectives of the Operational Environment
    community.apan.org/wg/tradoc-g2/fmso/ Foreign Military Studies Office Volume 9 Issue #2 OEWATCH February 2019 FOREIGN NEWS & PERSPECTIVES OF THE OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT EURASIA INDO-PACIFIC 3 Radios in the Russian Ground Forces 21 Chinese Military Launches Largest-Ever Joint Logistics 50 IRGC: Iran Can Extend Ballistic Missile Range 5 Northern Fleet Will Receive Automated C&C System Exercise 51 Turkey to Create Space Agency Integrating Air, Land and Sea 23 Luo Yuan Describes an Asymmetric Approach to Weaken 52 Iran’s Army Aviation Gets UAV Unit 6 The Inflatable Sentry the United States 53 Turkey to Sell ATAK Helicopters to the Philippines 7 The S-350 Vityaz Air Defense System 25 Military-Civil Fusion Cooperation in China Grows in the 54 Chinese Military and Commercial Cooperation with Tunisia 8 Bigger is Better: The T-80BVM Tank Modernization Field of Logistics 10 The Power Struggle for Control of Russia’s Arctic 27 Chinese Military Completes Release of New Set of Military AFRICA 11 The Arctic Will Have Prominent Role in 2019 Operational- Training Regulations 55 Anger in Sudan: Large Protests Against al-Bashir Regime Strategic Exercise “Center” 28 China Defends Xinjiang Program 56 Africa: Trouble Spots to Watch in 2019 12 Preparation for the 2019 Army International Games 29 Is Pakistan Acquiring Russian Tanks? 57 Can Businessmen Bring Peace in Gao, Mali? 13 Cossacks – Hybrid Defense Forces 30 Russia to Deploy Additional Anti-Ship Missile Batteries 58 Chinese Weapons in Rwanda 14 Update on Military Church Construction Near Japan by 2020
    [Show full text]
  • Turco-British Rapprochement on the Eve of the Second World War
    TURCO-BRITISH RAPPROCHEMENT ON THE EVE OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR YÜCEL GÜÇLÜ The First World War failed to resolve the basic conflicts among the European powers. The injustices inherent in the Versailles peace settlement only worscncd the complicated national questions which bedevilled the whole of Europe. The military, political and economic developments which followed i9 i8 drove the European world towards a new grouping of powers. At the bcginning of the i930s the countries of the Balkan Peninsula once more bccame the stage in an acute struggle among the largest nations in the world. The interests of Britain, France, Germany and ltaly clashed, as the Balkan countries occupied a crucial position on the East-West route. The confiicts among the greater European states, sharpened on the eve of the Second World War, aggravated the politicaI situation in the Balkans and impeded the realisation of the regional diplomatic plans of both Western countries and of Nazi Germany and Fascist ltaly. Hence a closer scrutiny of the distribution of power in southeastem Europe and the Ncar East during the Iate i930s, as well as the policy of the great powers vis-lı-vis this area may help to better grasp the complcx international configuration prevailing in Europc on the brink of war. Continuing its traditional policy of balance of power in Europe long af ter the First World War, Britain contributed considerably to the rehabilitation of Germany as a military and political power on the European continent intended to counterbalance the exccssive strengthening of Francc. All German efforts to weaken the French infiuence were welcomed by the British governmenl 60 THE TURKISH YEARBOOK [VOL.
    [Show full text]
  • Defence Turkey an Interview with Mr.Leventissue Şenel 33/2012 on Turkish Land Platforms
    1 DEFENCE TURKEY AN INTERVIEW WITH MR.LEVENTISSUE ŞENEL 33/2012 ON TURKISH LAND PLATFORMS TURKISH LAND FORCES: VOLUME 7 ISSUE 37 YEAR 2012 ISSN 1206 6000 A BRIGHT STAR IN PEACE AN OVERVIEW ON TURKISH LAND PLATFORMS FNSS INCREASE ITS POWER WITH JOINT PRODUCTION AN ARTICLE ON ARMOURED LAND VEHICLES AND TURKEY THE FIRST PROTOTYPES OF ALTAY TNMBT DEMONSTRATED THEIR MOBILITY RADAR AND ELECTRONIC WARFARE SOLUTIONS IN LAND PLATFORMS SPECIAL ISSUE LAND SYSTEMS DEFENCE TURKEY 2 ISSUE 33/2012 VOLUME: 7 ISSUE: 37 YEAR: 2012 ISSN 1206 6000 Publisher Company İmge Co. 6 Publisher & Editor in Chief Ayşe AKALIN [email protected] General Coordinator Cem AKALIN [email protected] Administrative Coordinator Yeşim BİLGİNOĞLU [email protected] Translation Tanyel AKMAN 14 [email protected] Graphics & Design Gülsemin BOLAT Görkem ELMAS [email protected] Advisory Board (R) Major General Fahir ALTAN (R) Navy Captain Zafer BETONER (R) Col. Fevzi BARUTÇU Prof Dr. Nafiz ALEMDAROĞLU Asst. Prof. Dr. Altan ÖZKİL Kaya YAZGAN 22 Philipp REUTER Ali KALIPÇI Nadir BIYIKOĞLU Zeynep KAREL İMGE Co. Mahatma Gandi Cad. No:33/7 06700 GOP-Ankara / Turkey DEFENCE TURKEY Administrative Office Mahatma Gandi Cad. No:33/7 06700 GOP-Ankara / Turkey Tel: +90 (312) 447 1320 [email protected] 24 www.defence-turkey.com Printing Görsel Grup Basım İstanbul Caddesi, İstanbul Çarşısı Kat:2 No:4864 İskitler / Ankara Tel: (0312) 428 88 53 www.gorselbasim.com.tr Basım Tarihi EKİM - KASIM 2012 Yayın Türü Süreli İMGE Co. 50 © All rights reserved. No part of publication may be reproduced by any means without written permission.
    [Show full text]
  • To:$M.R$Ahmad$Shahid$ Special$Rapporteur$On$The
    To:$M.r$Ahmad$Shahid$ Special$Rapporteur$on$the$human$rights$situation$in$Iran$ $ Dear%Sir,% % such%as%equal%rights%to%education%for%everyone,%preventing%the%dismissal%and%forced%retirements%of% dissident%university%professors,%right%of%research%without%limitations%in%universities%and%to%sum%up% expansion%of%academic%liberties.%Student%activists%have%also%been%pursuing%basic%rights%of%the%people% such%as%freedom%of%speech,%press,%and%rallies,%free%formation%and%function%of%parties,%syndicates,%civil% associations%and%also%regard%of%democratic%principles%in%the%political%structure%for%many%years.% % But%unfortunately%the%regime%has%rarely%been%friendly%towards%students.%They%have%always%tried%to%force% from%education,%banishments%to%universities%in%remote%cities,%arrests,%prosecutions%and%heavy%sentences% of%lashing,%prison%and%even%incarceration%in%banishment,%all%for%peaceful%and%lawful%pursuit%of%the% previously%mentioned%demands.%Demands%which%according%to%the%human%rights%charter%are%considered% the%most%basic%rights%of%every%human%being%and%Islamic%Republic%of%Iran%as%a%subscriber%is%bound%to% uphold.% % The%government%also%attempts%to%shut%down%any%student%associations%which%are%active%in%peaceful%and% lawful%criticism,%and%their%members%are%subjected%to%all%sorts%of%pressures%and%restrictions%to%stop%them.% Islamic%Associations%for%example%which%have%over%60%years%of%history%almost%twice%as%of%the%Islamic% republic%regimeE%and%in%recent%years%have%been%the%only%official%criticizing%student%associations%in% universities,%despite%their%massive%number%of%student%members,%have%been%shut%down%by%the%
    [Show full text]
  • Produkce a Nasazení Tureckých Ozbrojených Dronů Turkish Armed Drones Production and Deployment
    Vojenské rozhledy č. 1/2021 DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.30.2021.01.021-037 Recenzovaný článek Produkce a nasazení tureckých ozbrojených dronů Turkish Armed Drones Production and Deployment Pavel Faus, Miroslav Mareš Abstrakt: Článek se věnuje problematice tureckého vývoje a použití ozbrojených bezpilotních prostředků v kontextu zvýšené mediální pozornosti vyvola- né jejich nasazením v několika konfliktech. Autoři v úvodu představují klasifikaci bezpilotních prostředků, a dále pak sledují vývoj a operační nasazení průzkumných a bojových dronů v minulosti. Následná stěžejní část práce se věnuje tureckému vývoji a použití ozbrojených dronů. Text analyzuje produkci hlavních tureckých společností, export a nasazení jejich produktů v nedávných konfliktech. Autoři v závěru textu diskutují úroveň turecké produkce, kterou srovnávají s lídrem na poli ozbrojených dronů, Spojenými státy. Srovnání odhaluje nedostatečnou vyspělost sou- časné generace dronů i přetrvávající závislost na dodávkách komponentů ze zahraničí. Abstract: This article studies the current stage of development of armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle technology in Turkey, within the context of the current media attention caused by its deployment in various conflicts. Authors first provide a classification framework for surveillance and armed drones. Text proceeds with an overview of the technology and its military use. The core of the text focuses on Turkey’s past and present use of armed drones. Authors analyse the current stage of Turkey’s armed drone development production and export destinations. Furthermore, operational use by Turkey or other parties is discussed. Authors conclude by comparing current generation of Turkish drones to those deployed by the United States, highlighting technological edge on the side of the US, as well as continuing dependency of Turkey’s main drone systems on foreign components.
    [Show full text]
  • Iran and the Gulf Military Balance - I
    IRAN AND THE GULF MILITARY BALANCE - I The Conventional and Asymmetric Dimensions FIFTH WORKING DRAFT By Anthony H. Cordesman and Alexander Wilner Revised July 11, 2012 Anthony H. Cordesman Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy [email protected] Cordesman/Wilner: Iran & The Gulf Military Balance, Rev 5 7/11/12 2 Acknowledgements This analysis was made possible by a grant from the Smith Richardson Foundation. It draws on the work of Dr. Abdullah Toukan and a series of reports on Iran by Adam Seitz, a Senior Research Associate and Instructor, Middle East Studies, Marine Corps University. 2 Cordesman/Wilner: Iran & The Gulf Military Balance, Rev 5 7/11/12 3 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 5 THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................... 6 Figure III.1: Summary Chronology of US-Iranian Military Competition: 2000-2011 ............................... 8 CURRENT PATTERNS IN THE STRUCTURE OF US AND IRANIAN MILITARY COMPETITION ........................................... 13 DIFFERING NATIONAL PERSPECTIVES .............................................................................................................. 17 US Perceptions .................................................................................................................................... 17 Iranian Perceptions............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Putin's Syrian Gambit: Sharper Elbows, Bigger Footprint, Stickier Wicket
    STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVES 25 Putin’s Syrian Gambit: Sharper Elbows, Bigger Footprint, Stickier Wicket by John W. Parker Center for Strategic Research Institute for National Strategic Studies National Defense University Institute for National Strategic Studies National Defense University The Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) is National Defense University’s (NDU’s) dedicated research arm. INSS includes the Center for Strategic Research, Center for Complex Operations, Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs, and Center for Technology and National Security Policy. The military and civilian analysts and staff who comprise INSS and its subcomponents execute their mission by conducting research and analysis, publishing, and participating in conferences, policy support, and outreach. The mission of INSS is to conduct strategic studies for the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the unified combatant commands in support of the academic programs at NDU and to perform outreach to other U.S. Government agencies and the broader national security community. Cover: Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, August, 2012 (Russian Ministry of Defense) Putin's Syrian Gambit Putin's Syrian Gambit: Sharper Elbows, Bigger Footprint, Stickier Wicket By John W. Parker Institute for National Strategic Studies Strategic Perspectives, No. 25 Series Editor: Denise Natali National Defense University Press Washington, D.C. July 2017 Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Defense Department or any other agency of the Federal Government. Cleared for public release; distribution unlimited. Portions of this work may be quoted or reprinted without permission, provided that a standard source credit line is included.
    [Show full text]
  • The Turkey-UAE Race to the Bottom in Libya: a Prelude to Escalation
    The Turkey-UAE race to the bottom in Libya: a prelude to escalation Recherches & Documents N°8/2020 Aude Thomas Research fellow, Fondation pour la recherche stratégique July 2020 www.frstrategie.org SOMMAIRE THE TURKEY-UAE RACE TO THE BOTTOM IN LIBYA: A PRELUDE TO ESCALATION ................................. 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1 1. TURKEY: EXERCISING THE FULL MILITARY CAPABILITIES SPECTRUM IN LIBYA ............................. 3 2. THE UAE’S MILITARY VENTURE IN LIBYA ................................................................................ 11 2.1. The UAE’s failed campaign against Tripoli ....................................................... 11 2.2. Russia’s support to LNA forces: from the shadow to the limelight ................ 15 CONCLUSION: LOOKING AT FUTURE NATIONAL DYNAMICS IN LIBYA ................................................... 16 FONDATION pour la RECHERCHE STRATÉ GIQUE The Turkey-UAE race to the bottom in Libya: a prelude to escalation This paper was completed on July 15, 2020 Introduction In March, the health authorities in western Libya announced the first official case of Covid- 19 in the country. While the world was enforcing a lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus, war-torn Libya renewed with heavy fighting in the capital. Despite the UNSMIL’s1 call for a lull in the fighting, the Libyan National Army (LNA) and its allies conducted shelling on Tripoli, targeting indistinctly residential neighbourhoods, hospitals and armed groups’ locations. The Government of National Accord (GNA) answered LNA’s shelling campaign by launching an offensive against several western cities. These operations could not have been executed without the support of both conflicting parties’ main backers: Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The protracted conflict results from both the competing parties’ unwillingness to agree on conditions to resume political negotiations2.
    [Show full text]
  • The Paris Attacks: Charlie Hebdo, November 2015, and Beyond
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Supervised Undergraduate Student Research Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects and Creative Work 5-2016 The Paris Attacks: Charlie Hebdo, November 2015, and Beyond Hunter R. Pons University of Tennessee, Knoxville, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_chanhonoproj Part of the European Languages and Societies Commons Recommended Citation Pons, Hunter R., "The Paris Attacks: Charlie Hebdo, November 2015, and Beyond" (2016). Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_chanhonoproj/1932 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Supervised Undergraduate Student Research and Creative Work at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Paris Attacks: Charlie Hebdo, November 2015, and Beyond A Chancellor’s Honors Program Senior Thesis Hunter Pons Accounting Spring 2015 “Allahu Akbar” (God is the greatest). These were the words that resonated in the halls of the French satirical weekly newspaper, Charlie Hebdo, on January 7, 2015 around 11:30 local time in Paris. These same words were later heard by hundreds of innocent people again on the evening of Friday 13, November 2015, when terrorists coordinated a series of attacks targeted at mass crowds. Terrorism has never been a top threat to France in the past few decades. However, terrorism will haunt every single French citizen for years to come after witnessing what true terror can cause to a country.
    [Show full text]
  • Islamic State
    LISTOPAD 2016 BACKGROUND REPORT| XXII | NATO | 03 AMO.CZ Islamic State Rafat Kurdi PRAŽSKÝ STUDENTSKÝ SUMMIT | WWW.STUDENTSUMMIT.CZ 1 Introduction ISIS1 or Daesh2 is a terrorist organization that has achieved recognition in the past couple of years. Like many other terrorist groups, it shares the common hope of becoming an extremist Islamic fundamental state. However, what makes it unique is its ambition and aspiration to achieve its goals in the shortest time possible.3 Of course, ISIS has everything needed to become a state, such as administrative buildings, courts and street signs, all of which are general characteristics of a state, but not one that is internationally recognized.4 Its brutal ways of implementing its ideology have made it a rival not only to the western countries, but also to the neighbouring ones and to other terrorist organizations,5 which are opposing its barbarity to this very day. ISIS has also gained a lot of attention owing to the amount of progress it has made in several different aspects ranging from military to financial, meaning that it was able to gain a huge amount of profit to fund its operations in three years. One of the reasons why solving the problem of this organization’s very existence is so crucial, is due to the fact that it set up its branches in several African,6 European, and Middle Eastern countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Libya. Not only has ISIS committed atrocities in its controlled areas in Syria and Iraq, but it was also capable of moving out of its operational zone in the Middle East and scarring the West numerous times by perpetrating attacks like those in Paris and Brussels.
    [Show full text]